Watch The Mayor of Hell

The Mayor of Hell is a 1933 drama film directed by Archie Mayo and produced by Warner Bros. The film stars James Cagney as a gang leader who is sent to a reform school to straighten out his life. The film also features Madge Evans as the school's nurse and Arthur Byron as the school's reform-minded superintendent. The film begins with the arrest of gangster Patsy Gargan (Cagney) for stealing a car. Patsy's godfather, a corrupt politician named MacAlister (Dudley Digges), decides to have Patsy sent to the Milford Industrial School for Boys rather than face jail time. MacAlister assumes that the corrupt superintendent of the school, Thompson (Allen Jenkins), will be able to control Patsy and keep him out of trouble.

However, Patsy quickly rises to the top of the boy's hierarchy, becoming the self-proclaimed "mayor" of the school. He uses his intelligence and charisma to manipulate the other boys in the school into following his lead. However, Patsy's life takes a significant turn when he falls in love with Catherine Wells (Evans), the school nurse. Catherine sees the good in Patsy and tries to help him turn his life around.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Thompson is faced with pressure from the state to clean up the school's corrupt reputation. Thompson, who genuinely wants to help the boys in his care, sees Patsy as his best chance to enact real change in the school. Thompson enlists Patsy's help in uncovering the corruption that permeates the school, including a brutal reform system that involves cruel and inhumane punishment.

As Patsy and Catherine grow closer, Patsy begins to change his ways. He becomes a champion for the boys in the school, fighting for their rights and working to improve their living conditions. However, Patsy's new-found sense of morality puts him at odds with MacAlister and the corrupt officials who run the school.

The film is a powerful social commentary on the state of juvenile detention systems in the 1930s. It challenges the idea that reform schools were an effective way to rehabilitate troubled youths and instead argues that many such institutions were corrupt and inhumane. The film is also a strong indictment of political corruption and the ways in which the powerful often exploit the vulnerable for their own ends.

James Cagney delivers a powerful performance as the tough-talking gangster who discovers a new sense of purpose in life. His scenes with Madge Evans are particularly poignant, as the two actors share a palpable chemistry on screen. Evans is equally impressive as the compassionate nurse who sees the potential for change in Patsy. Arthur Byron is also excellent as the conflicted superintendent torn between his desire to help the boys in his care and his obligation to follow the corrupt rules of the school.

Overall, The Mayor of Hell is a deeply moving and thought-provoking film that remains poignant today. It is a testament to the power of cinema to challenge social norms and inspire change in the world.

The Mayor of Hell is a 1933 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.